TIME FOR PROVIDENCE

Crossroads of Calling: A Purposeful Return to Writing

There I was—at a crossroads. Do I shut down my blog? Repurpose it? Or keep going—how should I proceed?

At the beginning of the year, I told my wife, Laura, “If I catch myself doom-scrolling or stumbling into impurity through the social media platforms where I share these posts, I’ll shut it all down.” I meant it.

Before rejoining social media, I intentionally took time to examine my heart and priorities. I came away feeling confident, ready to share my hobby with others through those platforms. But I soon discovered that my self-assessment hadn’t matured into the level of self-control I thought I had. I allowed myself to get distracted and, worse, abandoned discipline in the enemy’s territory—entertaining lustful curiosity while checking how my posts were performing.

At a men’s retreat, I found myself asking, “Should I go ahead and nix Time For Providence?” I began by bringing it before the Lord in prayer. Then I processed it with the guys. One thing kept echoing in my mind: “No exceptions.” A brother had shared how sin becomes a habit—and a habit becomes a lifestyle—through just one exception. That exception? “It’s okay to ‘miss the mark.’” Whether it’s, “It’s okay to check just once,” or “It’s okay to let this slide,” every exception leads us to neglect our responsibilities—and step further from holiness.

Thankfully, the Lord provided wise counsel through community. My friend Glen, who was also at the retreat, offered a potential solution. I discussed it with Laura. Then with my therapist.

And now, here we are.

In God’s providence, I’ve also reconnected with Rainer—a fellow blogger and cherished mentor. If you haven’t already discovered his devotionals, visit The Devotional Guy! You’ll be blessed by the wisdom God has given him and encouraged by the community that surrounds his writing.

The result of that conversation is this post—with more to come. Writing isn’t a chore. It’s a joy. It’s art. It’s ministry. It’s a blessing.

Look at the Lord!

Nathan R. Dooley

5 responses to “Crossroads of Calling: A Purposeful Return to Writing”

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I get it, Nathan. I really do. Wanting to put my thoughts down just right, and hoping they’re from the Lord can become an obsession. Then there’s the yearning that I have for people to read what I write. I’ve considered turning off the likes and comments, on my posts, and just putting it out there. After all, why do I really create, and who do I hope to impress?

    Would you believe Rainer Bantau is also one of my mentors? When I started blogging, in 2018, The Devotional Guy was a template for my own blog. I don’t write much like Rainer, but I took his approach as a starting point for my own Christian blogger journey.

    Anyway, it’s nice to meet you, brother, and it’s great to be a part of your blogosphere—or whatever it’s called. Like I said, I identify with where you are, because I’ve been there, brother.

    Blessings!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Nathan R. Dooley Avatar
      Nathan R. Dooley

      David, what a blessing it is to hear your heart so clearly—and to know you’ve walked such a similar path. You’re absolutely right: the tension between wanting to communicate faithfully and the temptation to obsess over the outcome is real. I feel it, especially in the desire for others to notice or be moved by what I share. That question—“Who am I trying to impress?”—cuts to the core. It’s one I have to presently bring before the Lord.

      It’s wild (in the most awesome kind of way) that Rainer has also played a mentoring role in your blogosphere life! His consistency and faithfulness have clearly impacted more people than whats on display by stats. What a testimony to how God works through our obedience—even in blog form.

      I’m genuinely grateful to be connected now, brother. Let’s keep encouraging each other to create from a place of worship, not performance. It’s good to be reminded we’re not alone in this.

      Grace and peace 💛

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  2. seeingliketheeagle Avatar
    seeingliketheeagle

    Thanks for your post. It’s all part of growing into the blogging journey. I’ve been fortunate to learn from Rainer’s blog and also Alan at Devotional Treasures and David to name but a few. It’s good to have blogging mentors who give godly advice. I love the encouragement and challenge of their writings. Glad to have followed Rainer’s recommendation and look forward to reading more.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Nathan R. Dooley Avatar
      Nathan R. Dooley

      Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! It really is quite a journey, isn’t it? I know I still have a lot of growing to do, and I’m grateful for how the Lord weaves together connections among writers who desire to honor Him. Rainer, Alan, David—and you—are already impacting me, and I feel truly blessed to now be part of this circle.

      Thank you for following Rainer’s recommendation. I’m honored to have you here, and I pray the Lord continues to use all of our writing to sharpen, strengthen, and point others to Christ.

      Grace and peace in your ministry, 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar
    The Devotional Guy™

    I’m thankful for you all and humbled and honored by your kind words. I’m thankful for God’s grace, because without it, none of this would be possible. It’s a joy to see how your writing continues to blossom and bloom. And you add far more to my life than you know. Many continued blessings 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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